5 things you probably didn’t know about Rotterdam

5 things you probably didn’t know about Rotterdam

When you think of Rotterdam, you probably think of amazing architectural feats such as the Zalmhaven tower or the Euromast, which you have to visit when in Rotterdam. But, this Dutch city is so much more. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about it!

1. Jimi Hendrix’s only performance ever in the Netherlands was at the Ahoy

Jimi Hendrix only gave one concert in the Netherlands and that was in the Ahoy in Rotterdam in 1967. He played there at the Hippy Happy Beurs. Something that makes his performance that much more extraordinary is that he actually disappeared 45 minutes before he was meant to go on stage.

In typical rock star fashion, Jimi is found getting intimate with a girl at her house. He rocks up to the Ahoy minutes before his set. That day, 1.800 people are at the Happy Hippy Beurs and tickets to the Jimi Hendrix Experience are five guilders each. Jimi was only meant to play for 30 minutes, but he ended up staying on stage for a little longer. His performance was described as magical.

2. It has the biggest port in Europe

That’s right; Rotterdam has the biggest port in Europe and takes the tenth place in the world. In 2017, it had a total of 29.646 sea-going vessels and 105.000 inland vessels along with 8.194.232 containers and 13.734.334 Twenty-Feet Equivalent Units (TEU).

According to the Port Authority and Port of Rotterdam, The Port Authority has 1.150 employees and a turn over of approximately 710 million euros. At the port itself, there are 180.000 jobs. Of the European ports, the top five are as follows: Rotterdam, Netherlands; Antwerp, Belgium; Novorossiysk, Russia; Hamburg, Germany and Ust-Luga, Russia. If you want to explore the port, we recommend heading there on World Port Days!

3. There is a barking ban (dogs)

If you have a dog, be warned! In Rotterdam, there is a ban on barking dogs. If your dog is causing a nuisance either in the surroundings or at night with its constant barking or crying, you could be looking at a fine of around 140 euros!

4. The Maastunnel was the first ever traffic tunnel in the Netherlands

The Maastunnel was completed in 1942 after five years of construction. It connects the banks of the Nieuwe Maas or New Meuse and is not only the oldest traffic tunnel; it was the first one to be built using the immersed tube method.

The tunnel consists of two tubes, which are around seven metres wide, with two traffic lanes each and two smaller tubes for pedestrians and cyclists. The implementation of the rectangular element, which houses the tube tunnels, was a world’s first back in 1937. Before then, all underwater tunnels were circular. The tunnel, not including access roads, is 1070 metres long and at its deepest point, it is 20 metres below sea level.

5. The Markthal has the biggest piece of art in the world

If you’ve ever been to the Markthal in Rotterdam, there is no missing the giant, vibrant fruits, flowers and insects that adorn the inside of the building. Created by artists Arno Coenen en Iris Roskam, this artwork is actually the biggest in the world!

The piece is a whopping 11.000 metres squared and is called Horn of Plenty. The creation is also known as the “Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam”.

And? Did you know these facts about Rotterdam? Do you think we missed any remarkable facts? If so, let us know in the comment section below!

Author

Mina Solanki

Completed her Master's degree at the University of Groningen and worked as a translator before joining IamExpat. She loves to read and has a particular interest in Greek mythology. In...